Husband Attacked Her With Acid: Over 80 Surgeries Later, She Changes Her Mind About Euthanasia

After surviving approximately 87 reconstructive surgeries following an acid attack, a 58-year-old woman has been approved for legal euthanasia. María Consuelo Córdoba had sought an assisted death in Bogotá due to catastrophic facial trauma and breathing difficulties.

However, in early September, she said she would no longer undergo euthanasia after support was arranged for further reconstructive surgery.

The attack occurred in 2000 when her husband concealed acid in a liquor bottle and threw it at her face. Believing it was alcohol, she rushed to wash it off with water while he fled the scene.

The chemical assault burned through vital tissue, severely narrowing her nasal passages and compromising airway function. She currently relies on two plastic nasal tubes to facilitate basic air flow and maintain breathing.

Medical History and Trauma

She has only a small opening at her mouth and says this makes eating difficult. She remains in need of further facial reconstructive surgery while dealing with persistent physical agony.

The physical damage rendered her unable to work, causing severe financial hardship alongside her ongoing medical struggles. She says she travels around Bogotá requesting financial aid to pay for her small rented room.

In 2017, Pope Francis spoke with her during his Colombian visit, urging her not to seek assisted dying. Although he assured her that Colombia would help her get surgeries, she says that the aid did not materialise and her condition subsequently deteriorated.

Colombia's Legal Healthcare Framework

In a recent broadcast, Córdoba appeared in a mask revealing her severe facial scarring and plastic nasal tubes. Her public interview prompted renewed public discussion regarding healthcare support for victims of domestic chemical attacks.

Capital Salud EPS, Córdoba's health insurer, confirmed her formal approval for voluntary euthanasia. The agency noted that her authorisation for the medical procedure was granted four years ago.

Capital Salud EPS stated she will receive continuous medical support regardless of her final decision. The health body pledged to attend to all her clinical needs with human dignity and respect.

Clinical Perspectives on Euthanasia

Colombia permits legal euthanasia for non-terminal patients experiencing intense physical suffering from severe bodily injury.

Resolution 813 of 2026 sets a strict clinical process, requiring informed consent and multidisciplinary committee evaluation. The clinical debate surrounding euthanasia balances patient autonomy with the protective role of comprehensive palliative care.

Opponents of assisted dying emphasise that palliative care provides relief from distressing physical symptoms and chronic pain. They argue that quality palliative interventions offer compassionate support for patients facing incurable conditions.

Research indicates an association between severe depression and requests for life termination among ill patients. Medical experts stress the importance of psychological evaluation to assess mental health during euthanasia requests.

Supporters argue that chronic, debilitating conditions create immense physical, emotional, and financial burdens for patients and caregivers. They maintain that individuals suffering from untreatable bodily injuries should possess the right to die with dignity.

Non-Terminal Medical Precedents

Spain recently saw a similar case where chef Ainhoa Caballero Medina requested assisted dying following an alleged assault by her former partner that left her with serious long-term injuries. Medina says she suffered chronic pain, brain damage, and sensory loss after her ex-partner attacked her.

Colombia became the first Latin American nation to decriminalise voluntary euthanasia for terminal patients in 1997. The Constitutional Court later expanded this right to include non-terminal patients enduring severe suffering.

In 2022, Victor Escobar became the first non-terminal Colombian patient to receive legal euthanasia for severe end-stage disease. Martha Sepúlveda, who suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, was also euthanised under this expanded legal framework.

Córdoba's case highlights the complex intersection of severe physical trauma, long-term reconstructive medicine, and end-of-life care.